Posts

Event 3: 24 Hours without Technology

Image
  T here is mounting evidence that suggests blue light, especially in the evening, disrupts the natural sleep cycle (Silvani et al.). Additionally, it has been shown that “ excess use of the internet over prolonged periods of time may negatively affect some cognitive functions, particularly attention and short-term memory” (Tarawneh). I also found it interesting that breaks from technology can “reduce stress” (UW Health). For these reasons, I thought it would be useful to do a 24 hour technology break as my third event. With finals on the horizon, de-stressing would be very beneficial. I think I achieved just that. I will be honest finding a day when I would not need to be on my computer and phone in any capacity was challenging. However, Friday, June 7th was the perfect day for me as I had no work commitments or academic deadlines to follow. The most challenging part was not having an alarm clock. Thus, I spent nearly 11 of the 24 hours sleeping. During my 24 hours, I took to pen ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 9: Space and Art

Image
M ovies have always been the most interesting form of art. I couldn’t quite understand why until I read an article where the writer detailed “movies are the highes t art form because it takes writing, story, photography, drawing, painting, concept art, animation, visual effects, music, acting” (ActionVFX). This made me reflect on movies as a whole and realize that many famous action movies center around outer space. Space and art are unique in that they interplay with one another and help us to create fictional worlds and even theorize about the unknown. A few examples of the highest-grossing movies of all time that include space components are Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (Box Office Mojo).  Both of these movies take on a unique art form that weaves space and space travel into the genre.  Via IMDb This pushed me to realize one of my favorite movies of all time sits directly at the center of space and art: Interstellar. “ When Earth becomes uninhabit...
1 comment
Read more

Week 8: Nanotechnology and Art

Image
T he first time I heard of nanotechnology was actually while watching Avengers: Infinity War , in which Tony Stark (IronMan) has a suit made out of nanotechnology. See bel ow for a gif of the suit.  Via Avengers: Infinity War This sparked my interest to think about how nanotech and fashion could intersect. Nanotechnology is already being incorporated into clothes via silver nanoparticles. These particles are antimicrobial, meaning they “kill bacteria that causes bad odor” (Cave). One set back to the silver technology is that “ nanosilver is released from the fabric through sweat, and that those particles can be absorbed through the skin” (Green America). Long term, this could pose potential health risks. Below is a graphic of how silver nanoparticles affect the body and its functions.  Via Dove Medical Press However, there are still other nanotechnologies that are hopeful. Nano-whiskers, another form of nanotechnological fabric, can “produces a lightweight water- and stai...
1 comment
Read more

Week 7: Neuroscience and Art

Image
T his week’s topic “Neuroscience and Art” has me thinking about the brain and how it processes information, including art. Art can be consumed in many different ways. Two examples are visually and auditorily, both of which are processed by the brain in slightly different ways. Visual information is “processed by an intricate system of interconnecting neurons, which begins with the optic nerve in the eye up to the visual processing center in our forebrain called the visual cortex” (Huff et al.). View diagram below for visualization of visual processing.  Via All About Vision As for auditory processing, the “outer ear directs sound waves to your eardrum and causes it to vibrate. These vibrations move through your middle ear and into your inner ear. Finally, these signals travel to your brain, which translates them into what you hear” (Cleveland Clinic). View below for a diagram depicting how auditory processing occurs.  Via University of Minnesota Libraries In addition to the p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Event 2: Coachella Balloon Art

Image
O ver the weekend of week 4, I had the opportunity to attend Coachella. I had never been before, so I was not expecting to see so many art installations, let alone any that applied to this course. One particular art installation caught my eye. It’s called the Balloon Chain by Robert Bose. The balloon chain “is a large scale ephemeral sculpture made up of multiple expansive strands of helium filled balloons” (Balloon Chain). The installation relies heavily on two things: Bose and the wind to take its form. Bose acts as the anchor at one end (see below) in which he adjusts his position to the wind, while the other end allows for observers to be a part of the structure by anchoring the other end.  Photo taken by Bailey Giovanoli (myself) at Coachella 2024 As for the wind, Bose himself has said that “each installation is different” and that “the wind makes sure of that” (Blake). This can be seen below in how the kinetic sculpture looks slightly different in all the pictures I have take...
Post a Comment
Read more

Event 1: COLOR LIGHT MOTION: Featuring Ryszard Kluszczyński

Image
Event 1: COLOR LIGHT MOTION: Featuring Ryszard Kluszczyński O n Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a virtual event on the work of Wen-Ying Tsai in Cybernetic sculptures. Before the event, I was completely unaware of what cybernetics was and how it differed from robotics. The difference is that cybernetics is “ to understand and define the functions and processes of systems that have goals, and that participate in circular, causal chains that move from action to sensing to comparison with the desired goal to action”. At the same time, robotics is the physical entity that acts (Edinformatics). Cybernetics is the infrastructure that allows the robot, the physical entity, to be.  Wen-Ying Tsai is best known for “ his cybernetic sculptures, which he developed in the mid-1960s and continued to work on throughout his life” ( Tsai Art and Science Foundation ). See some examples of his work in cybernetics below. Some of his most noteworthy works included an “ impressive piece of all...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 4: Medicine, Technology, and Art

Image
T he origins of plastic surgery date back as far as 800 B.C. in India (Champaneria et al.). However, the World Wars of the 20th century truly allowed for the rise of plastic surgery as we see it now (Bouhadana et al.). Initially, the focus of plastic surgery was reconstruction to restore features to “normalcy” following mutilation. Below is a World War I veteran that underwent reconstructive surgery.   Via Plastic Surgery of the Face by Dr. Harold Gillies This was soon recognized as a profitable market for unnecessary aesthetic alterations, becoming known as cosmetic surgery. It is undeniable that plastic surgery, which encompasses both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery is an art form as the “doctor also sees the procedure with an artist's eye, discerning the subtleties of form and symmetry to make decisions that will transform not just tissue but lives” ( Brumby ). The dawn of social media has normalized cosmetic surgery more than in the past, with 48.5% of people reporting fee...
1 comment
Read more